Connecter for wrist watch bracelets



ZMMJH @pfi. 71?, E935. H BAKER CONNECTER FOR WRIST WATCH BRACELETS Filed Oct. 23, 1954 2 Z F F Z Z W Patented Sept. 17, 1935 NITE-o- STATES PATENT-a OFFICE f .CONNEGTER FOR 'WRIST WATCH BRACELETS 2 Application October 23', 1934, Serial No. 749,580

.8 Claims.

bands and bracelets to the cases of Wrist-watches and for similar purposes.

5 One object of the invention is to provide a connecter or fastening device of the type indicated:

which is adapted for use with straps, bands or bracelets of various forms and particularly with bracelets of the talon type having arcuatelyshaped arms hinged to the watch and resiliently. operated to clasparound the wrist of the wearer.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a connecter of the type indicated adapted to 611-."

gage around'a bar, bail or loop on the watchcase'and having means for securing it fixedly thereto.

and quickly attached to and disconnected from the watch-case without requiring the use of pliers or other tools.

Another object of the invention is .to provide a device of the type indicated comprising a minimum number of parts adapted foreconomicalw edges and with the mechanical construction con cealed from view. Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the'following specification which de-' scribes several embodiments of the invention, by way of example,- as illustrated by the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

' Fig. 1 is a perspective View showing a conventional type of wrist-watch having opposite spring arms or talons hingedly connected .thereto by meansof the present improved connecters or fastening devices; I

Fig. Zis'anenlarged edge view. of a portion 0 the wristwatch-illustrating one of the hollow arms or talons in" section and showing the im-" proved means for connecting it to the watch-case; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same, part sectional, through the hollowarm;

Fig. l is a composite perspective-view 'of the v several parts of the connecter and hinge-joint shown in disassembled relationship;

- Fig. 5 is a perspectivevie'w of a portion of the wrist-watch showing the arm or talon hingedly.

connectedthereto and indicating the method 0 assembling the latter on the watch;

5 Fig.- 6 is a composite perspective view of the two:-

bracelet orlin'kage to the bail thereof;

' talon to thewatch-case it is formed with a bearwrist-clasping arm I This invention relatesto improvements in connecters or fastening: devices for attaching straps, 5

parts of-thez connectershown insdisassembled relationship;

' 'Fig. '7 iszan edge view of aportionof the watchcase showing the .arm or talon-connected thereto and'illustrating aislightly modified form of con- 5 struction' of the connecter;

Fig.8. is a bottom plan-viewiof a portion of the watch-case illustrating; 1 a slightly different form of connecter for attaching the end of a flexible l0 Fig.9 is an edge view of the-same; and

Fig. .10 isra perspectiveview of a section of the bracelet shown in Figs..8jand9, illustrating the method ofattaching therconnecter-device thereto.

The present improved connecter orfastening 15 devicecomprisesgin, general; ahook-like-element Another object of the invention is to provide-i3 a device of the type indicated which may be easily. 1

adapted toengage-around the bar: or bail on the side of a wrist-watch and a sleeveengageable with an enlarged terminalportion of the hook to secure the latter in attachedrelationship. -A preferred 20 form of construction of the connecter embodies detent-means for releasably locking the sleeve to the hook. When the connecter is to be used as a means for hingedlyconnecting a spring-arm or 25 ing hub to which the end of the talon is pivotally joined. In another embodiment of the invention the connecter-device is formed with a loop for coupling it to the end member of .a bracelet which may be composed of interconnected links, wiremesh, or leather straps or cords.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 represents a ladys Wrist-Watch 2 of baguette shape having loop-like bails 3 at its sides or ends to which different types of bracelets may be attached. The

bails 3, shown more clearly in Fig. 4, or their equivalent, serve as the anchoring means for the connecters 5 which are-joined to talon-like arms 1 or to a strap, band or bracelet as later explained.

Referring to Fig. 6 of the drawing, which illus- 40 trates the device as designed for use with wristclasping arms or talons 1, each connecter 5 comprises a' cylindrical bearing hub or hinge-element H3 and an arcuately shaped extension H projecting from one side thereof.. The curvedportion 'H of the connecter is adapted to overlie the top of the bail 3 on the sideof thewatch with the narrower bearingr hub ill, disposed outwardly therefrom for hingedly. mounting the talon or The arm or talon .i may be of any preferred form and, as herein shown, it is of hollow construction tapering from its pivotal, end toward the tip. The hinge end of the arm is cut away to 1 provide opposite lugs orbearings l4.;adapted:zto

straddle the bearing hub H! in abutting relationship with the ends thereof, see Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawing. A pivot-pin !5 projects through apertures it in the bearing lugs M and axially through the bearing hub Hi to connect the parts in hinged relationship. A helical spring I! is enclosed within the bearing hub IS with one end secured fast in a slot IS in one end thereof, see Figs. 3 and 6, and its opposite end extending in a leg is which projects into the hollow of the arm I. The spring I! is thus caused to bear against the inner wall of the arm 3 as shown in Fig. 2 to swing the latter on its pivot in the manner indicated by the dash lines in this latter view.

The means for joining or attaching the connecter 5 to the bail 3 on the watch-case 2 is embodied in a hook-like extension projecting laterally from the under side of its curved platelike portion H. The hook 29 is of slightly arcute shape and of a width corresponding to that of the opening between the ends of the loop or bail 3. The terminal portion of the hook 2% is shaped to generally cylindrical form to receive a split sleeve slidable thereover. As shown in Fig. 4 the cylindrically-shaped terminal portion of the hook 20 may be formed by scoring or grooving its convex side across the width thereof.

The sleeve 25, shown in detail in Fig. 4, may be constructed of tubular stock slitted along one side to render it resilient whereby to provide for a slight binding action as it is slid onto the hook. One edge of the slit is preferably nicked to form a small indentation or notch 25 adapted to cooperate with a detent projection on the hook 20 to retain the sleeve in connection therewith in the manner as hereinafter more fully explained. For this purpose the groove 22 on the rearward side of the hook 20 is interrupted at its approximate center by a projection 2? of the metal which operates as a detent-lug for engaging in the notch 26 in the edge of the sleeve 25, see Fig. 6.

In applying the connecter 5 to the watch the hook 251 is inserted through the loop of the bail 3 to dispose the curved portion H of the connecter above the crossbar with its edge abutting the side of the watch-case. The sleeve 25 is then slid across the cylindrical terminal portion 2! of the hook 28 until its notch 26 is engaged with the detent-lug 2'! shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing. The edges of the slit in the sleeve 25 bind tightly against the sides of the hook and the lug 21 springs into the notch 26 to retain the parts in this connected relationship.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawing that the sleeve 25 forms an anchoring means for the connecter with its side abutting the side of the watch and the under side of the bail 3 so that the parts are substantially rigidly connected to prevent play or rocking motion of the connecter on the bail.

Fig. '7 of the drawing illustrates the connecter 5 as having the terminal portion of its hook scored or grooved on both sides to define a somewhat larger cylindrical portion 39 for reception in the hollow of the sleeve 25.

With the connecter 5 applied to the Watch-case in the manner as above explained the talon or arm i is hingedly connected thereto to adapt it to swing inwardly toward an opposite arm of the same type to clasp around the wrist of the wearer. The helical springs I! at the hinges of the opposite arms tend to swing them toward each other while permitting their free ends to be spread apart for placing the bracelet on the wrist or removing it therefrom.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 of the drawing illustrate a modified form of construction of the connecter to adapt it for use with link bracelets or other flex ible straps or bands having loops at their ends for connection with the watch. In this embodi-- ment of the invention the connecter 5 consists in a top plate adapted to overlie the crossbar'of the bail 3 on the watch-case and provided with up a curved hook 35 for insertion through the loop of the bail. The end of the hook 3'5 is formed with an enlargement 31 with which the split sleeve 25 engages as it is slid thereacross. At the opposite end of the top plate 35 is a projecting strip 15 or tang 38 which may be bent into a loop as indicated in Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawing to enclose the crossbar of the end link of the chain or any other suitable elcment connected to the end of the flexible bracelet, strap or band. so

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present invention provides a particularly simple, efficient connecter for joining the hinged talon arms of a bracelet to the sides of the watch-case or for attaching link bracelets or other types of :5 flexible straps and bands to the watch. The improved connecter may be readily applied to the watch-case without the use of pliers or other tools and when once connected it provides a secure fastening for the bracelet to guard against loss of the watch. Likewise, the present improved connecter may be readily detached from the watch by simply sliding the split sleeve off from the end of the hook, thereby providing for easy and convenient attachment and detachment of 35 bracelets of various types when a change in style or size is desired.

While the invention is herein shown as embodied in a preferred form of construction, with several modifications illustrated, it is to be un- 40 derstood that further changes may be made in the structure and arrangement of the device without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. A connecter for attaching straps, bands and bracelets to the bails of wrist-watches comprising an element adapted for connection with the bracelet, a hook on said element for insertion through the loop of the bail on the watch-case, said hook provided with a laterally-extending terminal portion, and a sleeve slidable on the terminal portion transversely of the hook to retain it in connection with the bail.

2. A connecter for attaching straps, bands and bracelets to the bails of wrist-watches comprising a member adapted to overlie the crossbar of the bail and having means for attaching it to the bracelet, said member formed with a relatively wide hook for insertion through the loop of the bail and having an enlarged terminal portion, and a split sleeve slidable across the hook with the terminal portion of the latter enclosed therewithin to hold the hook in connection with the bail. 5

3. A connecter for attaching straps, bands and bracelets to wrist-watches consisting in a member shaped to overlie the crossbar of the bail on the watch-case with its edge abutting the side of the case and provided with means for connecting it to the end of the bracelet, a hook on said member shaped to engage between the bail and the side of the watch and having a substantially cylindrical terminal portion, and a split sleeve slidable across the hook to enclose its terminal portion to secure the connecter to the bail.

4. A connecter for attaching straps, bands and bracelets to the bails of wrist-watches comprising a member shaped tooverlie the bail on the side of the watch-case and provided with means at one end for connection with a strap, band or bracelet and a hook at the opposite end for insertion through the loop of the bail, said hook scored with a groove extending laterally of its terminal portion, and a split sleeve slidable across the terminal portion of the hook with the edge of its split portion engaging in the groove thereof.

5. A connecter for attaching straps, bands and bracelets to the bails of wrist-watches comprising a connecting element having a hook-shaped arm formed to engage around the crossbar of the bail between the latter and the watch-case, and a split sleeve slidable across the terminal portion of the hook-shaped arm, said hook-shaped arm being formed with a laterally-extending bar at its end received in the hollow of the sleeve to retain the parts in connection.

6. A connecter for attaching straps, bands and bracelets to the bails of wrist-watches comprising a member formed with means for connection with a strap, band or bracelet and a hook-shaped arm adapted to engage around the crossbar of the bail on the watch-case, said hook-shaped arm of the member being provided with a groove extending laterally of its terminal portion, a split sleeve slidable across the terminal portion of the hook-shaped arm with the edge of its split portion engaging the groove therein, and detentmeans for yieldably retaining the sleeve in place on the arm.

'7. A connecter for attaching straps, bands and bracelets to wrist-watches comprising a member formed with a loop for connection with a strap, band or bracelet and a hook-shaped arm adapted to engage around the crossbar of the bail on the side of the Watch-case, said hook-shaped arm being formed with an enlargement at its end, a split sleeve adapted to slide across the terminal portion of the arm with the enlargement thereof enclosed therein, and a detent projection on one of the parts engageable with a notch in the other part to yieldably retain the parts in connection.

8. A connecter for attaching straps, bands and bracelets to wrist-watches comprising a member having a hook portion adapted to engage around 20 the crossbar on the side of the watch-case, said hook having a groove extending laterally of its terminal portion, a split sleeve slidable across the terminal portion of the hook with one of its edges engaging in the groove thereof, said 25 

